Cane Hill College

Cane Hill College, located at 14219 College Road in Canehill, Arkansas, is a historic institution with a rich educational legacy. Founded in 1834 as Cane Hill School, it was the first organized school in Northwest Arkansas and boasted the state's first public library. Over the years, the institution evolved into Cane Hill College, becoming one of the earliest in Arkansas to grant four-year degrees.

Despite facing challenges such as closure during the Civil War and destructive fires, Cane Hill College persevered and even absorbed students from the Clyde Female Seminary in 1875, becoming the state's first coeducational college. The current brick college building, constructed in 1886 in the Victorian Italianate style, stands as a testament to the institution's resilience.

Although financial difficulties led to the college's closure in 1891, the building continued to serve as a school until the 1950s when it merged with the Lincoln School District. The college building, with its historic bell tower and rows of Black Walnut trees planted in the late 19th century, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

In 2017, Historic Cane Hill, Inc. embarked on a project to restore the college building, preserving its original features and ensuring its place in history. Today, Cane Hill College stands as a symbol of education and perseverance, a reminder of the institution's enduring legacy in Arkansas's educational history.